Geordie stars Michelle Heaton and Ant and Dec are set to grace the hallowed turf of St James's Park for a celebrity-packed soccer tournament.

Liberty X star Michelle, of Gateshead, has already booked her place for the charity tournament with football-fanatics Ant and Dec set to follow.

The pair have turned out for the Celebrity Soccer Six competition for the past few years and the lure of playing at the home ground of their beloved Newcastle United could be too hard to resist.

Former Toon legend Chris Waddle will also appear.

The Celebrity Soccer Six competition is now in its ninth year and over the years has convinced some of the country's biggest stars to pull on a soccer jersey and battle it out in the name of charity.

For the first time the prestigious event is coming to Newcastle where a glittering list of big names is expected to turn out.

Chris Waddle, who won 62 caps for England, is set to play against fellow former professional Mickey Thomas, as well as urban popstars Blazin Squad and a selection of stars from Hollyoaks and Brookside.

And organisers are hoping that current Toon stars will offer their expertise and all round football know-how to manage the teams.

In the past names such as footy-mad Rod Stewart and former Toon bosses Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish have taken part.

In total more than 160 famous faces will take part with 12 men's teams and four girls teams.

The competition is the largest of its kind in the whole of Europe and attracts more than 15,000 eager star-spotters who get the chance to see their favourite stars in a different light.

And the stars themselves get the chance to be crowned champion soccer celebs. Last year Mis-teeq won the girls trophy while Westlife stole the crown from Ant and Dec.

Mark Arbery, whose company Cup founded the competition, said: "It has got bigger and bigger every year and we just had to take it to the North East because everyone is football mad up there.

"It gives fans the chance to see their favourite celebrities in a situation they have not seen them before.

"And for some people it will be their first time into St James's Park because it is so hard to get in as the games are always sold out."

Mark added that while celebrities clamour to appear at the prestigious tournament, many find their time very valuable.

But the added incentive of playing at one of the top stadia in Europe is proving too much to resist.

Mark said other big name celebrities will be confirmed nearer the event.

The St James's event will kick off a three-date tour of the competition which will see it at Liverpool's Anfield ground, before finishing off at West Ham's home, Upton Park.

The event takes place on Monday May 5. Tickets are on sale now priced at #10 for adults and #5 for children.